AIBU to report neighbour for this housing situation?

[Radio4andChocolate]

Ndn has rented out his garden shed to be lived in. The shed is built in to the side wall of the garden, he’s done a little ‘extension’ by covering the remaining space between the side entrance gate and the wall of the house with some corrugated plastic roofing, and he’s extended the shed lengthways with some planks of wood, by about 0.3m. I’ve measured the equivalent space in our garden (the houses are identically built) and it’s 2.7m x 3.2m, so with his extension it will be about 2.7m x 3.5m.

He didn’t post anything locally about planning permission or have any workmen round so I have no idea what conditions are like inside the ex-shed but I really doubt they meet any kind of building regulations or safety requirements. Apart from anything else, the shed part of it still has the original roof, which makes it not high enough for me to stand up in (I'm 5'6'' and I have to stoop slightly, MIL is 5'2'' and can stand up in it). I have no idea whether he has managed to get electricity out there or what arrangements he has made for bathroom use.

There have been a few tenants in and out, they mostly keep themselves to themselves so it’s only recently I’ve been 100% sure they are actually living in the shed and not in the main house. Currently there’s a young couple.

I’m quite torn whether to report him to someone or to leave it alone. On the leave it side, part of me thinks that if people are willing to pay to live in a space like that, that’s their business and they can just get on with it. On the do something side, I’m sure it can’t be a suitable place to live and I worry that ndn is exploiting vulnerable people – all the tenants have been young eastern Europeans with limited English.

So, WIBU to report him (W = would not was)? And if not then who would I report him to? Or should I leave well alone? He’s a friendly enough neighbour, but we’re not on terms where I feel I could confront him directly about this. WWYD?

Report to local council. It’s most likely illegal.

I wouldn't confront but I would report. Maybe ring shelter for advice, they might be able to point you in the right direction.

I’d report it, in case he’s charging eye watering rent for unsafe and unsuitable accommodation. There have been many horrible accidents and health issues due to landlords not taking their responsibilities seriously.

You need to report this.

Report. Fire safety is a genuine issue with places like this.

report! no question -& I hope he goes to court & gets a really high fine - fire safety, electrics hygiene health HMRC (tax!) Planning etc etc those poor desperate people

Report, this is common in some places in the U.K. ‘beds in sheds’ as said usually squalid and a fire hazard at the least. Report to the council

I would report to the council. It doesn’t sound legal or safe

Definitely report, it’s not OK.

Sounds like exploiting the vulnerable is exactly what he’s doing, yes I’d report.

Are you joking? Assuming this isnt a joke of course you should report him. That's absolutely disgusting those poor people assuming they're not horrible people deliberately avoiding decent legal places to live

I’d report it

I would report it to make sure whoever is living in it is not being exploited by being in unsafe or insanitary conditions. Ndn needs a licence to be a House of Multiple Occupancy.

Ask the environmental health department of the local council (enforcement) to visit - I doubt it's electricity safe or fit for human habitation

Report. ‘Slum landlords’ who charge extortionate rent for unsuitable conditions need to be stopped.

Call your local housing department.

Ok, thanks everyone. I'll call the council. Don't know if it will do any good as so many of the houses around here have building work going on they must be run off their feet. But I'll give it a go.

I’d absolutely report- you are totally right that he’s exploiting desperate people. Just because people are willing to pay to live in shitty conditions doesn’t make it okay. If he’s renting there are so many regulations he would have to fit such as fire safety/heating requirements etc.

Report it for sure. He is likely profiting from providing substandard, unsafe and illegal accommodation which wouldn’t meet fire safety and other regulations. He would need planning permission, prob building control and the housing dept would be interested. Also not paying council tax as the property is illegal.

We’ve had shitty landlords locally who have let out totally dangerous accommodation and ended up being done under POCA (proceeds of crime act) when they didn’t comply with enforcement notices. Good.

I hate people who exploit the vulnerable. Definitely report and feel no quilt about it.

Ok, thanks everyone. I'll call the council. Don't know if it will do any good as so many of the houses around here have building work going on they must be run off their feet. But I'll give it a go.

I don’t think this is something the council would put onto the “I’ll deal with it later” pile. If somebody does end up god forbid dying in that shed because it’s unsafe and they’ve know about it, I’m sure they could bee in deep trouble. Couldn’t they?

Fir all you know he's charging high rents to people who can't rent elsewhere for whatever reason. Today there is a young couple...how long before it's a young couple with a baby living in unhealthy conditions?

Please report this. He’s what’s known as a ‘slum landlord’. He’ll be renting out his awful accommodation to desperate people for extortionate amounts of money. It’s highly likely somebody will end up dying in there or it becoming a hub of other unsavoury activity.

My ex local authority (London) really clamped down in this a few years ago.

Young Eastern European tenants are likely to be more streetwise than people who mark them as vulnerable, and won't probably be grateful for you reporting.
I rented a mattress in a slum b&b when I first came to the UK to do my masters. It was £40/week in London, and it was heaven.